Hat mold



Jan. 1 l V H. J. DEL MONICA 1,986,141

HAT MOLD Filed July 31, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTORi HERBERT J. DELMO/NCA.

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ATTORNEY Jan. 1, 1935. H. J. DEL MONICA 1,986,141

HAT MOLD Filed July 31, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

HERBERT J. DEL MONICA ,i-svi f/l f ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES HAT Mom) Herbert J. Del Monica, San Francisco, Calif. I d A Application July 31, 1933, Serial No. 682,905

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hat molds and more particularly to hat molds for use in conjunction with hydraulic and other pressure means.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide means for adaptingthe conventional apparatus to the production of a full range of hat sizes of a given model without duplicating the basic parts of the apparatus;

Another object is to reduce the capital investment in equipment necessary to produce a full range of hat sizes.

Another object is to reduce the storage space required for extra equipment.

A further object is to accomplish the above objects without departing from the conventional manual technique of molding hats.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

Broadly stated the art of molding hats consists in the preliminary blocking and shaping of the hat on a bench block. The shaped hat is then removed from the block, the surplus brim removed, then it is buffed or finished in the usual manner and placed crown downward in a heavy mold suspended in the heating chamber of a press. An expansive bag is then lowered into the hat and expanded by internal pressure until the hat takes the shape of the confining mold.

This method will vary with the nature of the hat material and the result desired. Felt, straw, buckram and other materials require treatment in accordance with the material in the usual manner.

l-leretofore each hat size, advancing by half inches in women's sizes and by quarter and eighth inch sizes in mens hats, have required a complete block and mold combination. These block and mold combinations are expensive, heavy and bulky. When multiplied by all the sizes of a given hat model, represent a serious problem in first cost, maintenance, storage, etc. When a model fails to sell to the trade, the discarded equipment becomes a serious loss to the industry. In the light of this disclosure, the advantages of this invention become apparent.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings, the invention will be disclosed in its preferred form. It is to be understood, however, that it is not limited to this form because it may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims following the description.

In the two sheets of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hat block and I telescoping shells constructed, combined and arranged in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of a hat form and telescoping shells constructed in accordance with this invention, suspended in the heating chamber of a press, beneath the expansive bag of the same both shown in fragmentary vertical section.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings, referring to Fig. 1, comprises the hollow block 1 preferably cast in aluminum alloy and conforming to the internal shape of the hat to be blocked. It has the lateral base 2 conforming to the desired shape of the hat brim. The base is supported upon the legs 3-3. The products of combustion rising from the Bunsen burner into the hollow block heat it to the desired temperature.

The block 1 is made to the contour of the smallest size of the hat model desired. The base 2 has the impaling pins 55 projecting there from. The hat blank is hand stretched, steamed and worked until it fits snugly over the crown of the block 1, and the base 2. The surplus margin of the hat blank is then drawn over the edge 6 of the base and impaled upon the pins 55 to secure it to the block. A string is then drawn tight around the block and tied at the line '7 where the crown meets the brim. The previously steamed hat blank is then permitted to partly dry on' the block.

It is then removed from the block and transferred to the interior of the mold 8 which it fits snugly. The expansive bag 9, composed of rubber and shaped to fill the mold 8 and overlie the brim flange 10, is lowered into position. Hydraulic or fluid pressure is then introduced into the bag 9 to force the hat blank against the heated smooth interior walls of the mold 8. This brings the hat blank up to the exact head size desired.

After molding, the surplus hat brim is trimmed off around the crease left by the line 6. The molded hat is then surfaced, decorated and finished in accordance with the mode.

Thus far the mode of operation and apparatus is in accordance with the common practice of the art with appropriate modifications for millinery and mens hats. Y

The present invention contributes to this art the telescoping shells 11, 12 and 13 to be used in combination with both the block 1 and the mold 8. .These shells nest snugly together and actin unison in advancingthe head sizes on the block 1 and reducing the head sizes in the mold 8. For instance, a hat shaped directly on the block 1 would be molded within the shell 11 in the mold 8. The shells have brim flanges fitting each other and the base 2 and the flange 10, respectively.

The height of the crown is proportioned to the head size by thickening the shells at the top of the crown, as at 11'. Ornamental depressions can be sunken into the interior surfaces of the mold 8-, and the various shells, into which the stock of the hat is forced by the bag 9 to form embossed decorations on the molded hats.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hat mold having a series of telescoping shells proportioned to varying hat sizes, separately removable from said mold.

2. A hat molding apparatus including a block and a mold and a series of telescoping shells proportioned to varying hat sizes removably fitting said block and mold.

3. A hat molding apparatus including a block and a mold, a series of telescoping separable shells proportioned to varying-hat sizes snugly fitting each other, the inner shell of the series adapted. to fit snugly over said block and the outer shell of said series adapted to fit snugly Within said mold.

HERBERT J. DEL MONICA. 

